Attending Worship May Have Saved Their Lives

As everyone at the Lewisville church knows, one of our families recently lost their home and all of their possessions in a fire. They escaped with literally the clothes on their backs. The fire Marshall told them that if they would have been sleeping in and not getting ready to attend worship they would have probably burned. This good brother said to me the other day, “It’s just stuff; we are thankful to be alive!” What a marvelous attitude and a wonderful example for all of us.

This incident reminded me of another similar situation several years ago. I am a little sketchy on the details, however it was something like this. In a small community a farmer was absent from Wednesday night Bible study. The people at the church knew something was wrong or he would have been present. They went looking for him and found him in his house lying on the floor. He had suffered a heart attack and they were able to get him to the hospital where his life was spared.

Is it possible that these lives were saved because of the faithfulness and commitment of these Christians? I’m not sure we can really know the answer to that question, but it sure didn’t hurt that they were regular churchgoers.

While those may not be the most valid reasons for attending worship, please allow me to share a few others.

WE SHOULD ATTEND WORSHIP BECAUSE OUR LORD IS PRESENT.

A number of years ago brother Hugo McCord told us about an elderly Christian gentleman in another country who walked four miles to worship and four miles home. Brother McCord asked him why he would put himself through that at his advanced age? The brother responded by saying that he knew His Lord would be present and he did not want to miss being in the presence of the Lord! If we believe that our Lord is present when we worship, and if it does us good to be in the presence of the Lord, why would we want to absence ourselves from worship?

WE SHOULD ATTEND WORSHIP BECAUSE OUR LORD HAS COMMANDED US TO BE PRESENT.

The writer of the book of Hebrews admonishes us with these words, “Not forsaking the assembly of the saints, as the manner of some is…(Hebrews 10:25). Our Lord expects us to be present. If we love Him as we should we will keep his commandments (John 15:14). The beloved Apostle later tells us “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3) If we love the Lord and we want to obey Him we will be present when the church gathers for worship.

WE SHOULD ATTEND WORSHIP BECAUSE IT IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS WHEN WE ATTEND WORSHIP.

The Hebrews writer further states, “…not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another...” (Hebrews 10:25) The word used here for encouraging is the word, “parakaleo,” which means to come along side and encourage. One of the reasons we come together to worship is to receive encouragement from others. When we sing together, pray together, commune together, and study the Word together we will grow together.   When we share sorrows, burdens, joys, and victories with fellow Christians it is a great source of encouragement.

WE SHOULD ATTEND WORSHIP BECAUSE IT TEACHES OUR CHILDREN.

There are many ways we can teach our children and one of the greatest ways is through our example. When children learn that worship is important to their parents, it will be important to them. When children see dad and mom engaged in worship they will learn how much it means to worship the Lord.

WE SHOULD ATTEND WORSHIP BECAUSE IT ENCOURAGES THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH.

God has charged shepherds in the church with watching out for the souls of those they serve. They are to shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5:2), they are to live as examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:2), and they are to guard the flock (Acts 20:28). We make their work more joyful and we provide great assistance to them when we attend worship on a regular basis.

WE SHOULD ATTEND WORSHIP BECAUSE IT HELPS US GROW IN OUR FAITH.

We are told that we should long for the Word of God. (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:11-14) When we hear God’s Word taught (Romans 10:17) and when we are involved in worship we will grow in our faith.

Are you worshipping with the saints on a regular basis? Do you find every excuse possible to absent yourself and your family from worship? If you are not gathering with God’s Family to worship why not begin now? It might just save your life, and more importantly it might just save your soul!

Dear Father, help us to see the importance of worshipping with Your people each time they gather. Help us to encourage one another through our worship. Help us Lord to exalt our Savior in everything we do. In His Wonderful Name we pray, Amen.